The hit track “Golden” from the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters won Best Original Song at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday. The victory marks the first time a K-pop song has won the category. Songwriters EJAE, Ido, and Teddy Park became the first South Koreans to take home the award.
The massive songwriting team also included Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Park Hong Jun. Taking the stage in Los Angeles, 24-year-old EJAE delivered an emotional acceptance speech, stating the award was about resilience. The broadcast then sparked immediate online backlash when producers cut off co-writer Sonnenblick mid-speech. Viewers heavily criticized the Academy’s production decision as rude.
The musical victory secured the second Oscar of the night for K-Pop Demon Hunters. The project previously won Best Animated Feature. Co-director Maggie Kang accepted the animation award and dedicated the win to Korea and Koreans everywhere. Kang co-directed the feature with Chris Appelhans. The record-breaking film follows HUNTR/X, a fictional K-pop girl group composed of members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey who secretly battle supernatural demons.
“Golden” defeated nominated tracks from Sinners, Train Dreams, Viva Verdi!, and Diane Warren: Relentless. The result extended a historic losing streak for 69-year-old songwriter Diane Warren. Warren failed to convert her 17th career nomination into a win with her song “Dear Me.”
The fictional trio from K-Pop Demon Hunters crossed over into massive real-world fame leading up to the ceremony. The vocalists voicing the group—EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami—gained hundreds of thousands of followers. The trio performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and appeared alongside Bad Bunny on Saturday Night Live. K-Pop Demon Hunters currently stands as Netflix’s most-watched film of all time. The soundtrack placed eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025. “Golden” previously won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, alongside a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media earlier this award season.